In honor of Coming Out Month we are thrilled to welcome Dr. Dana Beyer on Wed., Oct. 2 at 7:00 pm: “Boychik-Treading Water and Breaking Out-A Life in Two Acts.” Dr. Beyer, a woman of trans history, will inspire us with her message that “Life is to be lived to the fullest, and that can’t be done ensconced in a closet. Know thyself–as hard as it may be, as long as it may take, you can and must break out.” Read the rest of this entry »

Families with children at RS: Please join Dena Herrin, Rabbi Jill Maderer and Michael Hauptman to learn about the plans for much needed new classrooms, new event spaces, and safety and accessibility improvements critical for bringing our building into the 21st century. Th., Oct. 3 at 6pm at the Fairmount home of Kate and Mike Riccardi. Free babysitting and pizza age 5+ at the home of Judy and Larry Mester, just a few doors down. Thank you to the Mesters and the Riccardis for co-hosting! Please RSVP to Shelley Saunders at ssaunders@rodephshalom.org or 215-627-6747 x44. Read the rest of this entry »

Remember. It’s one of our first Jewish lessons. It’s in the Ten Commandments, it’s in the poem L’cha Dodi with which we greet Shabbat each week, and it’s repeated throughout the liturgy of these High Holy Days. In our worship on Rosh HaShanah, the sound of the shofar awakens us specifically to remember our covenant with God. We return now to memory in our Yizkor service which allows us to honor those whom we have lost, to remember them.

But what if memories hold us hostage? What if our memories are the stumbling blocks that obstruct our future? As the Israeli novelist Amos Oz wrote, “Apart from the obligation to remember, is there also a right to forget?” (The Slopes of Lebanon)

Connect while you help out with mitzvah-cooking Wednesdays 5-7pm in the RS kitchen! With Laurel Klein’s leadership and veggies from the CSA, prepare or deliver meals for congregants who are sick, in mourning or just had a baby. Your Caring Community efforts really matter (you can read more about the meaning of the work in this Yom Kippur sermon).

To sign up for a share in next year’s Community Supported Agriculture at RS with Barefoots Organics, and receive a weekly box of fresh veggies throughout the growing season, click here.

The boy most critically injured by the lightening strike at the Reform Jewish overnight camp, mentioned early in this Yom Kippur sermon, continues to battle for his life. The end of this article tells us how we can help Ethan Kadish. As our hearts go out to Ethan and the Kadish family, we pray they will find health and wholeness.

At the beginning of this summer, we learned of a shocking story. One afternoon at our Reform Jewish camp in Indiana, during a game of ultimate frisbee, a rogue lightening bolt struck the athletic field. The lightening seriously injured 3 campers. Staff performed CPR, and the children were transported to the hospital. In the immediate wake of the havoc, everyone gathered in the dining hall, where the camp director led a Misheberach. What happened next? The camp broke into song. Read the rest of this entry »

Explore how we set intentions for Jewish food choices in our kick-off to our What is Your Food Worth initiative and first Sunday Seminar of the year. Our discussion with Nati Passow, director of the Jewish Farm School, and Rabbi Eli Freedman is tomorrow, September 22nd 10:15-11:15am. Whet your appetite with Nati’s thought provoking blog post. This opportunity is a part of our What is Your Food Worth partnership with the Feinstein Center for American Jewish History at Temple University.

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RS Blog is the official blog of Congregation Rodeph Shalom of Philadelphia. Rodeph Shalom is the Reform congregation in Center City Philadelphia and has been serving generations of families since 1795.